Self-adjusting feed roll



NOV. 29,-

H M, RBER SELF ADJUSTING FEED ROLL Filed Dec. 19, 1931 INVENTOR W $42. M

ATTORNEY3 Patented Nov. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES, PATENT: OFFICE I HOWARDM. BARBER, OF PAWCATUGK, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO C. COT' IRELL &; SOiN'S COMPANY, 013 WESTE'R-LY, RI-IGDE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARESELF-ADJUSTING FEED ROLL 7 Application filed December 19, 1931. SerialNo.'582,068.

V The object of my invention is to provide a self-adjusting feedroll ofnovel construction,

which feed roll is especially adapted for coaction with another roll tofeed paper or p other fabric, the adjustability of one of the feed rollspermitting the even feeding of the i material though it should vary inthickness or have any other inequalities therein; f r

A further object of my invention is to pro vide a self-adjusting feedroll comprising a shaft and one or more feedroller units adapted to beadjustably positioned along the shaft according tovaried requirements.

My invention consists generally in a feed roller unit comprising a fixedcollar, a slidable collar and an interposed self-adjusting or floatingannular feed roller, the fixed collarcarrying tension means acting ontheslidable collar to clamp the roller between the collars with an adjusteddegree of friction, as

required. H

My invention ventingrotative movement of the roller with respect to itsshaft and collars where such a 1 feature is deslred.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in'theaccompanying drawing in which 1 i i Fig. 1 represents one form of myfeed roller 1 unit, the unit being shown in central longi-' tudinalsection in position on its shaft;

Fig. 2 represents the roller unit in end elevation, the shaft beingshown in cross section and a portion of the slidable collar being brokenaway Fig. 3 represents another form of my roller unit, one-half beingshown in side elevation and one-half in central longitudinal sectionwith the unit in position on its shaft; and

Fig. 4 represents the unit in end elevation,

the shaft being shown in cross section and a portion of the slidablecollar being broken away.

The shaft of the self-adjusting feed roll is denoted by 1, on whichshaft any desired number of feed roller units may be mounted.

Each feed roller unit comprises a fixed col lar 2, a slidable collar 3and an interposed self-adjusting or floating annular feed roller 4. Thefixed collar 2 carries an adjustable also includes meansfor pre on byany desired means, as for instance by 7 providing the shaft with acircumferential series of longitudinal splines 5 andintermediaterecesses 6 adapted to engage corresponding longitudinalrecesses 7 and teeth 8 along thei bores of the fixed and slidablecollars 2 an 3.

The collar Qinay be secured in its desired position along the shaft bymeans of a set screw 9. This fixed collar is shown as presenting anextended frictional bearing surface to one side of the annular feedroller 4. i

The collar-3 which is slidable along the shaft 1 toward and away fromthe fixed collar 2v also presents an extended frictional bearing surfaceto the opposite side of the annular feed roller 4.

The fixed collar 2 is'providedv with a plurality of bolts -10 (fourinthe present instance) which project from its inner face through theannular roller 4 and holes 11 in' the slidable collar 3 into anannularrecess 12 where the ends of the said bolts are provided withtension adjusting nuts 13 threaded thereon. An annular follower ltisslidably mounted on the bolts 10and a coil spring 15 is interposedbetween said follower andthe bottom of the annular recess 12. Theannular follower 14 may be provided with an annular flangelti to moreefliciently guide the follower alongithe inner wall ofthe annular recess12 in the slidable'collar; V

In the form shown in Figs; 1 andQ, the bore of the self-adjustingannular feed roller tis-somewhatlarger than the outside diam-- eter ofthe shaft 1 and the tension bolts 10 carried by thefixed collar extendthrough holes 17 "in the feed roller. These holes are somewhat largerthan the diameter of the bolts and the bore of the roller is somewhatthereby permitting the floating or yielding of friction between thecollars. In this form larger than the outside diameter of the shaft theroller is'prevented by the tension bolts; 9

from rotative movement with respect to its shaft and collars. In thisform the face of the self-adjusting roller 4 may be cut away as shown at18 to clear a projectin part of the cylinder with which it coacts. uchprojecting part may be a gripper 19 as illustrated in dotted lines onFig. 2 of the drawing. To properly balance the feed roller 4, I providea. slot 20 in the roller diametrically opposite the cut away portion 18.I

In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the bore of the feed roller isenlarged to a point beyond the bolts 10 sufficiently to permit theroller to float or yield. This enlarged bore also permits rotativemovement of the feed roller with respect to its shaft and collars.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a feedroller unit which is extremely simple and which is readily adjustablenot only along its shaft but also as to its frictional effect on thefeed roller which is interposed between the fixed and slidable collarsof the unit. I I

It will also be seen that the tension means which acts upon the slidablecollar is carried by the fixed collar, the projecting end of the bolts,the tension spring, the annular follower and the adjusting nuts allbeing housed within the slidable collar thereby eliminating projectingparts which would tend to cause damage to any material which might comein contact with the unit.

It will also be seen that in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 thebolts of the tension means serve also to prevent the rotative movementof the feed roller without affectin itsfioating or yielding movement.

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in theconstruction, form and arrahgement of the several parts withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do notintend to be limited to the particular embodiment herein shown anddescribed, but

IVlmt I claim is:

1. A feed roll shaft and a feed roller unit carried thereby comprising acollar fixed to the shaft, a collar slidable on the shaft, an interposedself-adjusting roller and tension means carried by the fixed collar andyieldingly engaging the slidable collar to frictionally clamp the feedroller between said collars, said tension means including boltsprojecting from the fixed collar into the slidable collar, tensionadjusting nuts threaded on said bolts, an annular follower slidable onthe bolts and engaged by said nuts and a coil spring interposed betweenthe follower the slidable collar.

2. feed roll shaft and a feed roller unit carried. thereby comprising acollar fixed to the shaft, a collar slidable on the shaft, an interposedself-adjusting roller and tension I means carried by the fixed collarand yieldingly engaging the slidable collar to frictionally clamp thefeed roller between said collars, said tension means including boltsprojecting from the fixed collar into the slidable collar, tensionadjusting nuts threaded on said bolts, an annular follower slidable onthe bolts and engaged by said nuts and a coil spring interposed betweenthe follower and the slidable collar, the slidable collar having anannular recess for housing the projecting ends of the bolts, their nuts,the annular follower and the coil spring.

3. A feed roll shaft and a feed roller unit carried thereby comprising acollar fixed to the shaft, a collar slidable on the shaft, an interposedself-adjusting roller and tension means carried by the fixed collar andyieldingly engaging the slidable collar to frictionally clamp the feedroller between said collars, said tension means including boltsprojecting from the fixed collar into the slidable collar, tensionadjusting nuts threaded on said bolts, an annular follower slidable onthe bolts and engaged by said nuts and a coil spring interposed betweenthe follower and the slidable collar, said roller having enlarged holesfor the passage thercthrough of the said tension bolts.

4:. A feed roll shaft and a feed roller unit carried thereby comprisinga collar fixed to the shaft, a collar slidable on the shaft, aninterposed self-adjusting roller and tension means carried by the fixedcollar and yieldingly engaging the slidable collar to frictionally clampthe feed roller between said collars, said tension means including boltsprojecting from the fixed collar into the slidable collar, tensionadjusting nuts threaded on said bolts, an annular follower slidable onthe bolts and engaged by said nuts and a coil spring interposed betweenthe follower and the slidable collar, the said tension bolts passingthrough the bore of the said roller.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name this 15th day of December, 1931.

HOWARD M. BARBER.

